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JJ Grey & Mofro: This River

JJ Grey will release his new studio album This River on Tuesday, April 16. This is Grey’s seventh album (his fifth for Alligator Records) and his first studio album since 2010’s Georgia Warhorse. Like his previous releases, This River was produced by Grey and Dan Prothero, and recorded at Retrophonics Studio in Saint Augustine, Florida, with additional recording done in Grey’s home studio, known as “The Egg Room.”

“Many of the new songs,” says Grey in a statement, “are about being your own worst enemy, and about normal folks pushing themselves over the edge.” Grey’s lyrics and slice-of-life scenarios are filled with honest detail, helping to bring his emotionally complex characters to life in songs including Somebody Else, 99 Shades Of Crazy, The Ballad Of Larry Webb and This River. “I see a little bit of myself in these songs,” Grey states. “The difference is in the choices people make.”

For This River, Grey brought Mofro into the studio and cut most of the tracks live. “It adds so much more to the dynamic of a recording. It’s so different when you get to play off each other rather than overdub each track,” says Grey.

JJ Grey & Mofro will appear at SxSW in Austin, Texas in March and then head out on a massive cross-country tour. “This time around there’s no learning curve,” he says. “We’ll be ready from the git-go.”